McKinney ISD wins TEA approval for three waivers for 2026-27

McKinney ISD students will not see a wholesale calendar overhaul in 2026-27, but they will feel three Texas Education Agency waivers in practical ways: more flexibility for staff training, fewer disruptions on state testing days and a tighter cap on foreign exchange students at each high school.

The McKinney Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the requests at its April 20 meeting at the Central Administration Building in McKinney, and TEA has already approved all three waivers for the 2026-27 school year. District documents show McKinney ISD has filed similar waivers in prior years as it tries to match state rules with how its campuses actually operate.

The biggest classroom impact comes from the staff development waiver. Under TEA guidance, districts can use staff development waiver minutes within the instructional-minute system, but no district may receive more than 4,200 waived minutes. McKinney ISD’s request would allow up to 2,100 minutes of instructional time to be used for staff training intended to improve student performance. That means some minutes that would otherwise be spent in class can be redirected to training for teachers and staff, though the district still must stay within state limits.

A second waiver gives campuses more room to move things around on state assessment days. TEA calls it a modified schedule for state assessment testing days waiver. It allows campuses to adjust the schedule for students who are not taking tests, a change that can reduce the stop-and-start rhythm that often defines testing week on middle and high school campuses.

The third waiver is narrower but still important for campus planning. McKinney ISD asked TEA to limit foreign exchange participation to five students per high school for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. That cap will not affect most families directly, but it gives the district a fixed number for staffing, counseling and campus logistics.

The waiver approvals landed alongside a broader financial discussion. Chief Financial Officer Marlene Harbeson presented a budget update at the April 20 meeting and pointed to slowing growth in property tax values for homes inside McKinney ISD, a trend that could deepen the district’s budget shortfall. A March 2026 financial outlook projected a possible $7.5 million gap for fiscal year 2026-27.

The board also approved a 3.5% salary increase for teachers and staff for 2026-27. Taken together, the waivers and the budget decisions show a district trying to preserve instructional stability while managing tighter finances and the state rules that continue to shape school-day schedules across Collin County.